USA Midget Hockey: CBHL Playoffs

The Capital Beltway Hockey League (Tier II) playoffs were held in Laurel, MD this past weekend. While the No. 1 seed Ashburn Xtreme-1 team lived up to its billing in the U16 division, the Richmond Royals (No.2 seed) sprung a minor upset to win the U18 division. McKeen's correspondent Kevin Hopson was on hand and provides notes on several players.

U16 National Division

The Ashburn Xtreme-1 team, which was undefeated in league play (14-0-2) this season, came into the playoffs with an overall record of 39-2-7 and a national ranking of No. 22. As a result, it was no surprise when they blew out their organizational rivals (Ashburn Xtreme-2 team) in the semifinal game and went on to defeat the Tri-City Eagles 5-3 in the Championship game. With the win, the Xtreme move on to the Southeast District Championships, which are being held March 13-16 in Charlotte, NC.

Michael Hooper (2009), F, Ashburn Xtreme U16 AA2

Swift skater with excellent lateral movement, as he can zigzag while bringing the puck up ice.. he can literally carry the puck from one end to the other, blowing by defensemen in the process and then getting a quality shot on net .. capable of working both the PP and PK, as his mobility and puck-handling skills come in handy .. could be more precise with his passes, however .. possesses a physical game – when necessary – and is successful at finishing his checks .. can also take punishment, as he is the type who will shrug off contact and jump right up after being knocked down .. willing to work in the dirty areas, as he will pursue the puck knowing that he is going to be hit .. alternate captain who can be called upon in the circle. Stats: 21-9-30, 41 PIM

Justin Lucus (2010), C, Ashburn Xtreme U16 AA2

Leading point scorer for the team (18-34-52, 28 PIM) .. quality pivot capable of winning faceoffs .. sound skater who shows strength on the puck .. clutch player, as he is on the ice in big situations .. responsible in his own end and works hard, making him a great leader (alternate captain).

Matt Sorando (2009), F, Ashburn Xtreme U16 AA2

Leading goal scorer for the team (27-14-41, 82 PIM) .. an agile skater with deadly speed .. possesses an accurate wristshot, which he utilized well (scored a goal) in the semifinal game against the Ashburn #1 team.

Charles Rempe (2010), D, Ashburn Xtreme U16 AA2

Lofty defenseman (6-0, 175) who does not shy away from contact .. possesses solid puck-handling skills and can make a quality pass out of his own end .. a regular contributor on both the PP and PK .. his size and weight distribution give him a heavy slapshot .. meanwhile, his long reach makes him an effective defender, as he can stickcheck opponents and swats the puck out of dangerous areas .. can also clear space in front of the net .. biggest downfall is his mobility .. because of this, he will give up space to position himself properly .. this gives opponents more time and room to work with the puck. Stats: (7-15-22, 24 PIM)

Nathanael Rojas (2009), F, Tri-City Eagles U16 AA

Leading point scorer on the team, having recorded 54 points in 43 games during the regular season .. named high school player of the month last December .. powerful skater who can cut on a dime .. can carry the puck and dance with it, particularly along the boards, as he owns an active stick and soft hands .. because he is so strong on his feet, he is difficult to knock off the puck .. possesses quality vision and an accurate wristshot .. likes to pressure opponents at both ends .. aggressive on the forecheck and will play defense as well .. can be physical and will go on mean streaks at times .. an adequate player in the circle.

Christian Capobianco (2010), C, Richmond Royals U16 AA

Captain of the Royals and teammates with regional/national standouts Cory Gillespie and Strat Kefalas .. sound skater with respectable size, which he uses to outmuscle opponents in the circle, as well as to gain an advantage along the boards .. can be slippery with the puck and controls the rubber well in traffic .. capable of going 1-on-1 with defenders when necessary .. patient with the puck and possesses astute vision .. dependable PK guy given his effective draw play, aggressiveness around the puck and blue-collar mentality along the boards .. a solid two-way player/defensive forward .. overall, a very smart and reliable pivot.

Sean Thompson (2009), G, Ashburn Xtreme U16 AA1

Northern Virginia Scholastic Hockey League (NVSHL) All-Star in 2008 .. reflex goalie that is solid down low .. does not over anticipate, as he only goes down when he needs to .. also does a quality job of letting off-target shots go by .. this keeps him from trying to make unnecessary saves and possibly getting out of position .. shows vulnerability up high on the glove side .. will handle the puck but does not take extraordinary risks with the rubber. Stats: 23-1-4, 1.89 GAA, 0.91 SV% for Ashburn #1

John Loveland (2010), F, Ashburn Xtreme U16 AA1

NVSHL All-Star in 2008 .. has 31 goals and 38 assists for Ashburn #1 .. bulky (power) forward with sound skating skills .. sees the ice extremely well .. strong on the puck and is hard to separate given his size .. reliable passer, as he is patient with the puck and will eventually find the seams .. has a rifle for a slapshot, as he effectively utilizes his weight to get behind the puck .. capable of throwing the big hit and battling along the boards .. huge body on the PP, as he will stake claim in front of the net .. this can lead to deflections, rebound opportunities and screen plays.

U18 National Division

The Richmond Royals came in as the No. 2 seed and given their record (0-2-1) against the top-seeded Virginia Wild this season, they were not odds-on favorites to win the group. However, in the Championship game, the Royals overcame a 3-2 deficit in the third period and survived a barrage of shots late in regulation to defeat the 56th ranked Wild by a score of 4-3. As a result, the Royals will be moving on to the Southeast District Championships in Charlotte later this month.

Eric Delong (2008), D, Virginia Wild U18 AA/Stone Bridge High School

Won the 2007-08 NVSHL Championship as a member of the Stone Bridge High School team .. recorded eight points in nine regular season games for Stone Bridge .. reliable offensive defenseman who is a regular contributor on the PK .. however, he possesses the feet and puck control skills to lead the rush and set up the PP as well .. owns a quality slapshot, which he keeps low .. the bulk of his points come as a result of this weapon.

Brandon Ruhe (2008), D, Virginia Wild U18 AA/Stone Bridge High School

NVSHL All-Star for 2008 .. won the 2007-08 NVSHL Championship as a member of the Stone Bridge High School team .. recorded eight points in 10 regular season games for Stone Bridge .. named First Team All-Star for the NVSHL and also took home "Player of the Year" award .. captain of the Virginia Wild team .. has good size and mobility .. can work the PP with his slapshot .. big contributor on the PK .. more of a finesse defenseman who relies on positioning and hockey smarts to defuse dangerous situations .. not flashy but dependable.

Garrett Quinn F, Virginia Wild U18 AA/Stone Bridge High School

NVSHL All-Star for 2008 .. won the 2007-08 NVSHL Championship as a member of the Stone Bridge High School team .. led Stone Bridge in scoring, recording 24 points in 10 regular season games .. smooth and speedy skater who excels at moving the puck .. can easily hit the opponent's blueline and lead the rush .. sees the ice well and owns the type of hands that can deke goaltenders in breakaway situations .. his agility and puck-handling skills prove beneficial on both the PP and PK .. for example, he can control the puck and eat up time on the PK .. he can also cover a lot of space given his mobility and long reach .. always an offensive threat, as he can create shorthanded opportunities with his breakaway abilities.

Phillip Beethoven-Wilson (2009), D, Richmond Royals U18 AA

Like Zach Marino and Matt Valesko, who were recently covered by McKeen's, Phillip is a 1991 DOB who has played on the team since the age of 15 .. big defenseman (6-2, 182) who can initiate contact and finish his checks .. creates a lot of momentum once he hits full stride .. capable of skating the puck out of his own end and leading the rush .. also possesses the stickhandling abilities to outmaneuver opponents .. his quality hands can help bail him out of pressure situations in his own end as well .. however, he has a tendency to over utilize his stick (as opposed to skating), which can cause him to cough up the puck .. needs to keep his skates moving, as he can be caught flat-footed in his own end .. can also force lengthy passes at times, resulting in icing calls.